Heuchera plant named ‘IFHESBS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Heuchera  plant named ‘IFHESBS’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and relatively rapid growth rate; densely foliated and bushy appearance; leaves that are initially yellow green in color with distinct venation becoming yellow with development; leaves that are relatively tolerant to high light conditions; numerous inflorescences with light pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Botanical designation: Heuchera hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘IFHESBS’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Applicant/Assignee, Innoflora Plant Breeding B.V. ofHeerhugowaard, The Netherlands on Nov. 30, 2021, application number2021/3090. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Heuchera plant,botanically known as Heuchera hybrida, typically grown as a landscapeHeuchera and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘IFHESBS’.

The new Heuchera plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Andijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new compact Heuchera plants withattractive leaf and flower coloration and good garden performance.

The new Heuchera plant originated from a cross-pollination of aproprietary selection of Heuchera hybrida identified as code number083-13-K064-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Heuchera hybrida identified as code number083-13-K037-03, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent in April,2015. The new Heuchera plant was discovered and selected as a singleplant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in August,2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Heuchera plant by in vitro meristemculture in a controlled environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlandssince September, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this newHeuchera plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Heuchera plant has not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘IFHESBS’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘IFHESBS’ as a new and distinct Heuchera plant:

-   -   1. Compact and uniformly mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and relatively        rapid growth rate.    -   3. Densely foliated and bushy appearance.    -   4. Initially yellow green-colored leaves with distinct venation        becoming yellow with development.    -   5. Leaves that are relatively tolerant to high light conditions.    -   6. Numerous inflorescences with light pink-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Plants of the new Heuchera differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaf margins of plants of the new Heuchera are not as        undulate as leaf margins of plants of the female parent        selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are more tolerant to        high light conditions than leaves of plants of the female parent        selection.

Plants of the new Heuchera differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Heuchera are more compact than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are smaller than leaves        of plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Heuchera have more distinct        venation than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Heuchera can be compared to plants of Heuchera hybrida‘Electra’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,856. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Heuchera differ primarily from plants of‘Electra’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaf margins of plants of the new Heuchera are more undulate        than leaf margins of plants of ‘Electra’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are initially yellow        green in color becoming yellow with development whereas leaves        of plants of ‘Electra’ have are lime green in color.

Plants of the new Heuchera can be compared to plants of Heuchera hybrida‘Red Lightning’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,767. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Heuchera differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Red Lightning’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaf margins of plants of the new Heuchera are more undulate        than leaf margins of plants of ‘Red Lightning’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are more tolerant to        high light conditions than leaves of plants of ‘Red Lightning’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Heuchera plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Heuchera plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘IFHESBS’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘IFHESBS’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring in 3-liter containersin a greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Heuchera production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C.and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 13° C. Plants were 18 weeksold when the photographs and the description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Heuchera hybrida ‘IFHESBS’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Heuchera            hybrida identified as code number 083-13-K064-01, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Heuchera            hybrida identified as code number 083-13-K037-03, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 42 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; basal rosette            plant habit with leaves developing from the base; densely            foliated and dense and bushy appearance; compact and            uniformly mounded plant habit; overall shape, flattened            globular with upright inflorescences held above the foliar            plane; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and            relatively rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23.6            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescences.—About            40.6 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 46 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate in basal rosettes; simple.        -   Length.—About 10.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 10.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate to close to orbicular; palmately lobed.        -   Apex.—Short and abruptly acute.        -   Base.—Hastate, lobes free to slightly imbricate.        -   Margin.—About seven to nine lobes per leaf; crenate with            small abruptly acute tips; sinuses medium in depth and            divergent; moderately undulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately            pubescent; not rugose; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N144C;            venation and area surrounding veins, close to 178B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 145A; venation            and area surrounding veins, close to 178B. Fully expanded            leaves, upper surface: Close to 10A; towards the apex and            margins, close to 7A; venation, close to 154B; area            surrounding venation, close to 166B and 166C. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 10A; towards the apex and            margins, slightly tinged with close to 147D; venation, close            to 145B to 145C; area surrounding venation, close to 199C            and 199D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 19.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,            upper surface: Close to 145A; proximally, close to 177C.            Color, lower surface: Close to 145A; proximally, close to            152D        -   Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: One at the base of each            leaf. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Roughly lanceolate with acute apex. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 145B to 145C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single campanulate flowers            arranged on axillary compound spikes; each spike with about            250 flowers; about 1,500 flowers develop per plant during            the flowering season; flowers nodding to facing slightly            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time of flowering.—Plants flower continuously from late            spring into the summer in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about 13 weeks after planting.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Individual flowers last about a            week on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence length.—About 13.6 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—About 4.6 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte.            Color: Close to 150B; towards the base, close to 145A and            towards the apex, close to 180A.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals in a single            whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 0.8 mm. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Narrowly attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; not rugose; matte. Color: When opening,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 69D. Fully opened, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 69D; venation, close to 69D;            color does not change with subsequent development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals in a single            whorl; lower 60% fused. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About            1.2 mm. Shape: Free part, oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent;            matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 145C to            145D; towards the base, close to 145A to 145B and towards            the apex, close to 180A. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 154C; towards the base, close to 150B; distally, close to            N144D and at the apex, close to 180A. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 145C; towards the base, close to 13B;            distally, close to 145A and towards the apex, close to 180A.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 150B; distally, close            to N144D and at the apex, close to 180A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 42.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30° to 70° from            vertical. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; moderately            glossy. Color: Close to a blend of 144C and N144D.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 70° from peduncle            axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; matte.            Color: Close to 151A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Five per            flower. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close            to NN155B. Anther size: About 0.6 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape:            Ovate. Anther color: Close to N200C to N200D. Amount of            pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Gynoecium:            Pistil number: Two per flower. Pistil length: About 3 mm.            Style length: About 2.7 mm. Style color: Close to 150D.            Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped.            Stigma color: Close to 157A. Ovary color: Close to 145B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Heuchera.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Heuchera have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Heuchera plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Heuchera have been observed to    have good garden performance, to tolerate high light conditions and    to tolerate temperatures from about −35° C. to about 35° C. and to    be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Heuchera plant named ‘IFHESBS’ asillustrated and described.